BORACAY – The waters of this island resort remain clean and safe for swimming despite the presence of green algae, according to the Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group (BIARMG).
In a statement, BIARMG lamented the circulation of photos of green algae in the island and the reports on social media that it described as “maliciously suggesting that the waters of Boracay are unclean and unsafe for swimming.”
“The presence of the algae is simply a natural phenomenon that occurs yearly during the dry season or summer period in different areas of Boracay,” according to BIARMG general manager Martin Jose Despi.
He also said the algae were “non-toxic and should not be a cause for concern.”
“In fact, the volume of algae has naturally subsided significantly in the past two weeks,” according to Despi.
The BIARMG chief assured the public that the waters of Boracay are being monitored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB).
Water quality testing is conducted regularly “in strategic stations around Boracay Island,” Despi said.
“According to its official water quality report, the fecal coliform level in the front beach is 8 mpn/100 ml in January 2022 and 11 mpn/100 ml in February 2022. These results confirm that Boracay’s waters in the front beach exceptionally meet the water quality standards for swimming at 100 mpn/100 ml,” he stressed.
BIARMG also observed the presence of algae in Carabao Island, a remote and commercially undeveloped island near Boracay.
“The tourists are assured that Boracay’s waters are clean and safe for swimming and BIARMG is steadfast in its mandate to provide accurate information to the public,” according to Despi.
BIARMG is the implementing arm of Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) that has been overseeing the rehabilitation of Boracay since 2018.
Despi was appointed to BIARMG just last month. But he is not new to the rehabilitation works in Boracay. He was there from the beginning of the rehabilitation as head coordinator of the Beach Tourism Monitoring Team (BTMT) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Boracay Island started welcoming foreign tourists on Feb. 12 after nearly two years of tough measures to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The island drew 434 foreigners last month, data from the Malay Municipal Tourism Office showed. Tourists from Germany, United Kingdom and the United States made up the bulk of the first wave of tourists.
Though the island opened to visitors from other countries, there have been no chartered or direct flights to Kalibo International Airport.
Locals also spend more time holidaying in Boracay Island with 80,095 arrivals. Some 353 overseas Filipino workers also headed for the sun this season, according to the municipal tourism office.
Travelers are only required to present their vaccination card or certificate for the fully vaccinated. Visitors – partially or unvaccinated – just need a negative COVID-19 test results taken 72 hours before flight.
Quarantine is also not required for tourists. But they are asked to follow the minimum health protocols like wearing of facemasks and social distancing.
Curfew hours have also been lifted in the island allowing restaurants, bars and public transport to operate 24/7. (With a report from Boy Ryan Zabal/PN)
